Asus Announces Padfone, a Smartphone-Tablet Combo

Asus today announced a new product that blends the functionality of both an Android smartphone with an Android tablet. The Padfone features an Android smartphone that docks inside a slate-style tablet device. The tablet device offers a bigger screen, stereo speakers, and an extended battery, but the operating system and core features are provided by the smartphone. Asus says the operating system can transition seamlessly between the phone and tablet when the phone is inserted. Asus points out that this will allow users to "eliminate data transfer" as all the data and media are kept on the smartphone and don't need to be installed/replicated on the tablet. It also supports the smartphones cellular capabilities without the need for a second SIM card/data subscription, and the pad can be used to charge the phone's battery when needed. Asus shared few other details, but indicated that it is targeting a holiday launch for the product.

that they won't be able to charge you an extra $30-50/mo for a whole separate data plan just for the tablet... I guess they'll call this "tethering" even though its all the same CPU, etc... an extra $20 monthly charge for "screen tethering"... that's the ticket!

Mark, I have a Transformer, and love it. The only thing that concerns me about this, is whats the phone like. Its like being lost in the rhetoric. Think about it, the actual phone is going to be used far more then the pad in most cases.

After AT&T closes its acquisition of T-Mobile, it won't matter to Americans since there will essentially be only 1 GSM service available to most (unless you have a small mom and pop GSM carrier in your market.)

This is one of those things that you say to yourself "why didnt I think of that". This could possibly be my next device depending on the specs of both devices. With the solid build of Asus products somethig like this could be the item of the year to have.